Elmhurst Dentist Explains How Acid Erosion Develops Over Time

Written by Dr. Scharfenberg on Mar 6, 2017

Our Elmhurst dentists believe that the more you know about the threats to your smile, the better you can protect your teeth from damage day to day. Today we’re going to be talking about one oral health issue in particular: acid erosion. Keep reading to learn more about why acid erosion occurs, and how you can protect your teeth.

Many people do not realize that many of the foods and drinks that we enjoy every day are actually quite acidic. Fruit juices, for example, have high acid contents. Other acidic consumables include whole citrus fruits, coffee, tea, wine, alcohol, soft drinks, tomato products, and pickled and fermented foods.

When you consume acidic foods and drinks, you temporarily weaken your dental enamel. While your enamel is softened, it is more susceptible to damage and erosion.

In order to protect your smile from acid-related damage:

· Try to limit your consumption of acidic foods and drinks to limit the amount of time that your enamel is softer and weaker

· It is better to eat or drink acidic in short sittings, rather than snacking or sipping throughout the day. Remember: the goal is to minimize the amount of time that your enamel is affected by environmental acid.

· Get into the habit of rinsing your smile with water after you eat or drink something with a lot of acid

· Do not brush your teeth for at least 20 to 30 minutes after you finish consuming something with high acid content. For this period of time your dental enamel is softened, and you may actually inadvertently buff away enamel if you brush your teeth at this stage.

If you want to learn more about things that you can do to protect your smile from acid-related damage, our Elmhurst dentists are happy to answer your questions! Give us a call to schedule a consultation, or use the Contact Us page on our website to get started.